Popular explanations of EN352 and ANSI
EN352 is a series of European standards that focus on defining and testing different types of hearing protection, including passive and electronic hearing protection devices. These standards were developed by the European Technical Committee CEN/TC159 on Hearing Protection and have been adopted by the member states of the European Union. Manufacturers typically comply with these standards prior to commercializing their hearing protection products.
EN352 standards include performance requirements and test methods that are based on science and provide a uniform benchmark for evaluating hearing protection products from different manufacturers. Products certified to EN352 are independently tested by an accredited laboratory and CE marked by one of the EU Notified Bodies.
In 2020, the EN352 standard was updated, and this update included an expansion of product types, revisions to sound attenuation requirements, and further refinement of content. For example, the EN352-3 specification was extended from earmuffs originally used in combination with helmets to earmuffs that can be used in combination with head protection and face protection, which are now referred to as "Mounted earmuffs", and the head and face protection used in combination are collectively referred to as The head and face protection used in conjunction with them is collectively referred to as a "carrier".
The updated standard also adjusts the way sound attenuation performance is evaluated, using H (high), M (medium), and L (low) nominal values to specify minimum values to reduce overly detailed mandatory requirements, and adds a new requirement for an APVf98 value, which helps to take into account differences in product suitability for different individuals.
In addition, under the 2020 revision, the new standard requires that the user be provided with nominal values for sound attenuation calculated based on the ISO 4869-2:2018 methodology, including octave band sound attenuation data, HML nominal values, and SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) values, and requires data for the corresponding mean and standard deviation.
It is important to note that all European published standards are regularly reviewed every 5 years to ensure that they remain relevant to current market products and/or emerging technologies, usage. For EN352 updates, manufacturers are required to test, certify and label all products to comply with the updated standard. For end-users or purchasers of products, while no mandatory action is required, it is recommended to check that products manufactured after January 20, 2023 show the correct year of publication of the standard, e.g. headband earmuffs comply with EN 352:2020.
The newly revised EN 352 standard will be fully implemented after July 21, 2024, when new products on the market will need to be fully compliant with the 2020 version of the standard. However, existing products that are already on the market before this date and have a valid CE certificate will still be acceptable as long as the CE certificate does not expire before July 21, 2024.
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) is a non-profit organization that coordinates the development and updating of American National Standards. Founded in 1918, it is dedicated to improving the quality and safety of U.S. products and services while facilitating international trade and commerce.ANSI does not develop standards itself, but rather coordinates and accredits standards developed by other standards development organizations (SDOs) through an open and transparent process.
ANSI standards cover a wide range of areas, including but not limited to:
1. Product standards: Ensure product safety, quality and performance.
2. Test Method Standards: Provide consistent methods for testing product performance.
3. Terms and Definitions: Ensure consistency and clarity of industry terminology.
4. Process and Production standards: Guide production processes and methods.
5. Safety standards: To protect users and workers from injury.
ANSI standards are often compatible with international standards to facilitate global trade. They are often cited in regulations, contracts, product specifications and certification programs.
In the field of hearing protection, ANSI also has its own standards, such as ANSI S3.19, which is a standard for evaluating the noise attenuation performance of earplugs. Similar to EN352, ANSI S3.19 provides guidelines and methods for testing earplugs for noise attenuation at different frequencies.
